HIllsborough County Public Schools is currently accepting applications for the current school year of 2018-2019 and for the 2019-2020 school year in all subject areas and has a high need for teachers interested in teaching special education, reading, math, science, and elementary. APPLY NOW for consideration.

Now hiring qualified school bus drivers with paid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) training. Visit the Transportation Employment website or call 813-982-5521 to learn how to fast track to an interview today!

Bold Beginnings

Kindergarten

Program Description

Hillsborough County Public Schools offers a full day, academic program for children who meet the age requirement of five years of age by September 1. Students are assigned to schools based on their home address and you can identify your assigned school using our School Locator.

Requirements for Kindergarten Enrollment

Florida State Statute requires children to be 5-years-old on or before September 1 of that school year to be eligible for enrollment in kindergarten. There are no exceptions to this rule and no tests that can be taken to bypass the rule.

For children who move to Florida from out-of-state, we are able to accept a child who does not meet the age requirement ONLY IF the child was enrolled in another state for a minimum of 4 weeks and met the age requirements in place for the state from which they are moving.

Registering for Kindergarten in Hillsborough County

We strongly urge families to register for kindergarten between February 1 and August 1. Do not wait until the first day of school to register or you will find yourself in a long line and the process will take much longer than need be.

Once you have your paperwork collected, please call your child’s school and ask to speak to the Data Processor (DP). Let the DP know what paperwork you plan to bring and arrange for a good time to bring it into the office. He/she may be able to save you a trip by confirming you are bringing the correct paperwork!

Application Timeline

Registration for kindergarten opens in January for the following school year and continues through the summer. Early registration is encouraged.

Families interested in choosing a school other than their assigned school may do so by following our Choice procedures outlined on our Choice Options webpage or by calling their office at 813-272-4692.

Hours of Operation

Fees

There are no fees for the kindergarten program. Families requiring after school care for their child can contact our HOST Program (Hillsborough Out of School Time) for hours and fees for this program by calling 813-744-8942 #3 or visiting their website the HOST Program website.

The READY FREDDY™ logo and trademark is owned by the University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development, and is being used under license.

Summer

Each summer, our school district provides the VPK program at approximately 20 schools throughout the district. This program is offered from 7:30 AM to 6 PM (M-TH) and runs through the entire summer. The program provides a quality instructional program. Free breakfast and lunch are included at all sites. NOTE: The locations for the summer program will be available each March. For more information, call the VPK Office at (813) 272-4840.

Head Start/VPK Blended Classrooms

The Head Start program offered through Hillsborough County Public Schools has approximately 30 classrooms that provide extended days (until 4:30). Families that need this extended time will be able to take advantage of both Head Start and VPK funding through these blended programs. Students who participate in the blended Head Start/VPK programs must qualify for the Head Start program first. Children enrolled in a blended Head Start/VPK school year program will not be eligible for the summer VPK program. For questions regarding the blended Head Start/VPK program, please contact the Head Start office at (813) 970-7870.

PEEPS/VPK Blended Classrooms

The district also provides VPK blended with our Primary Exceptional Education Preschool Services (PEEPS) in approximately 90 classrooms across the district. In these classrooms, 8 PEEPS students are blended with 9 VPK students. This model provides a regular school day program running from 7:40 AM until 1:55 PM throughout the school year. Bell times may vary at certain sites. Important note: The first 3 hours of the day are our VPK program hours (7:40 AM - 10:40 AM). The remainder of the day (10:40 AM – 1:55 PM) is our Extended Learning Time and a fee applies for these hours.
For questions about this program please contact the VPK office at (813) 272-4840.

Title I

New for 2018-2019 – Any age-eligible child may apply for this program. This is not blended with any other program. Children may leave after the 3 hours of VPK or may be picked up at any time up until closing. Fees for the extended time may apply.

Continuous Notification of NondiscriminationPursuant to Title VI, Title IX, Section 504/Title II and other civil rights regulations, the School District of Hillsborough County (District) does not discriminate nor tolerate harassment on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, genetic information or pregnancy in its educational programs, services or activities, or in its hiring or employment practices; and it will take immediate action to eliminate such harassment, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects. The District also provides equal access to its facilities to the Boy Scouts and other patriotic youth groups, as required by the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act.

Website Accessibility StatementThe School District of Hillsborough County is committed to providing websites that are accessible to all of our stakeholders. If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader, eye-tracking device, voice recognition software, etc.) and are experiencing difficulty accessing information on this site, the following person has been designated to handle inquiries or complaints related to the functionality or inaccessibility of online content: Dr. Pansy Houghton, Executive Officer, Compliance. 813-272-4000; pansy.houghton@sdhc.k12.fl.us; 901 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, Florida 33602.

As required by Section 668.6076, Florida Statutes, you are hereby notified that: Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. History.--s. 1, ch. 2006-232.